It was supposed to be the game of the century. The Golden State Warriors were aiming for the best win-loss record in NBA history. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs had a 13-game winning streak and were on pace to put up the best point differential the league has ever seen. Monday’s game was hyped as a must-watch event: the Warriors’ unstoppable offense against the Spurs’ impossible defense.

Well, the Warriors promptly solved that impossible defense, and basketball fans were treated to yet another Warriors blowout. Golden State demolished San Antonio 120-90. There was very little the Spurs could do. Putting Kawhi Leonard, the reigning defensive player of the year, on Steph Curry only briefly slowed him down. Curry scored 37 points in the game, despite sitting for the entire fourth quarter.

Even for those who have enjoyed watching the Warriors embarrass opposing teams, Monday’s game was a disappointment. There was no drama, no suspense, no intrigue. Fans were promised a historic clash. Instead, they witnessed the basketball version of the NFC championship game between the Panthers and the Cardinals. (Curry was playing playing the role of Cam Newton, obviously.)

Now, this was only one game, and it may end up being just an aberration. The Spurs were playing at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors have yet to lose all season, and without Tim Duncan, who sat out with knee soreness. Although his days as a MVP candidate are firmly in the past, Duncan’s presence would have made a difference, albeit probably not a 30- point one. The two teams next play on 19 March, in San Antonio, with the Spurs potentially at full strength. If the Spurs pull off victory there, or even suffer a close loss, we’ll all go back daydreaming about a seven-game Western Conference finals between the two.

But maybe that is wishful thinking. It’s also possible that these Warriors have no rival and will continue to decimate the NBA like an invasive species without a natural predator.

This was the second time in two weeks that the Warriors embarrassed one of the teams that supposedly had a shot at knocking them out of the playoffs. Last week, they took on the Cavaliers in what was supposed to be an NBA finals preview. That turned out to be a 34-point road win for the Warriors. That loss spurred a coaching change and questions about whether Cleveland’s LeBron James-Kyrie Irving-Kevin Love super-team was doomed by the Warriors’ mere existence.

It’s to the point where the NBA might have a Superman problem on its hands. As many attempted movie adaptations will attest, it’s notoriously difficult to develop engaging stories about Superman, a character so powerful he can do just about anything. It’s difficult to come up with believable scenarios for Superman where there’s any drama or provide him with opponents that represent any realistic danger. Greatness, no matter how impressive, can end up being boring without legitimate conflict.

We’re not at that point with the Warriors yet, but Monday night’s win suggests that this rest of this season could end up completely lacking suspense – unless a team figures out what their Kryptonite could be.

Video of the week

The Phoenix Suns and the Atlanta Hawks couldn’t duplicate this series of ridiculous offensive mistakes if they spent weeks practicing choreography. It’s almost annoying when Kent Bazemore finally makes a shot.

How did LeBron carry the Cavaliers this week?

I’m not sure if “carried” is right term for this, but the events of the last week certainly have revealed exactly how much weight LeBron James holds within the organization. It’s widely believed that James was instrumental in his team’s decision to replace head coach David Blatt with assistant Tyronn Lue on Friday.

Publicly, James had said he was surprised by Blatt’s firing, and maybe he didn’t directly request the change, but nobody believes the team would have make such a drastic move if James were against it. Judging by the reports that followed the announcement, the only real surprise that James could have is in the fact that Blatt lasted as long as he did.

Quote of the week

If David Blatt’s getting fired, how in the hell do the rest of us have jobs? Because our front offices aren’t quite as crazy as theirs.

The Notorious SVG has a point. Under Blatt, the Cavaliers had a 30-11 record and was comfortably at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Most franchises wouldn’t make a change under these circumstances, but most franchises aren’t run by Dan Gilbert. Of course, Van Gundy, of all people, should realize that basketball teams have no shame when it comes to firing head coaches to placate a superstar player.

Power rankings

It’s not entirely the case that the Warriors don’t have a true rival, it’s just that the team they’re playing against hasn’t existed for nearly 20 years. With their Monday night win, the Warriors improved their record to 41-4, tying the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls for the best start in NBA history. At this point of the season, 72-10 seems like a very possible goal.

Before Monday’s loss to the Warriors, there was an argument that the Spurs were actually the best team in the NBA despite their less impressive record. Now? Now it would be easier to defend BoB’s claim that the earth is flat.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (4)

The Thunder had a seven-game win streak going until they lost a blizzard-delayed game against the Nets on Sunday. Maybe the Nets should only play on snow days from here on out.

Another ripple effect from the Blatt firing? LeBron James is now almost as hated in Israel, where Blatt coached Maccabi Tel Aviv, as he was in Ohio after The Decision.

5. Los Angeles Clippers (5)

First, the Clippers steal the Pistons’ move of letting Josh Smith go for nothing. Then comes the news that Blake Griffin will miss significant amount of time after injuring his hand in an “undisclosed team-related incident.” Later rumors emerge that this incident was a fistfight with a member of the equipment staff that began in a restaurant. Other than all that, things have been quiet on the Clipper front.

6. Toronto Raptors (6)

Congratulations Toronto, you’re currently in the weird, nebulous position that is “second best in the Eastern Conference.” Don’t get comfortable: some other team will take your place within the week, if not days. Also, congratulations to Kyle Lowry for rightfully getting voted in as an All-Star Game starter. That’s a much less tenuous achievement.

7. Chicago Bulls (7)

Normally, when a team goes through a coaching change, a team is motivated to make sure their next game is a big win. The Bulls would have none of it, solidly beating the Cavaliers on their home floor in the first game of the post-Blatt era, causing their own fans to turn against them.

8. Atlanta Hawks (10)

Remember last year, when nearly the entire Hawks’ starting lineup went to the All-Star Game? This year, there’s a good chance Paul Millsap will be their lone representative when the reserves are announced on Thursday.

9. Dallas Mavericks (9)

Speaking of the All-Star Game, did you know that Zaza Pachulia was almost voted in as a starter? It’s true, thanks to the efforts of the entire country of Georgia, a Fugee and a Vine celebrity. Also: did you know that Vine celebrities can influence popular voting now and that this is absolutely terrifying on a wide variety of levels?

10. Memphis Grizzlies (8)

Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace says he won’t be “compelled” to make a move before the trade deadline. Translation: he knows they have no shot of beating the Warriors, Spurs or the Thunder in the playoffs.

11. Houston Rockets (14)

The Rockets, breaking new ground in their mission to make basketball as painful to watch as possible, intentionally fouled Andre Drummond 21 times during a loss to the Detroit Pistons.

12. Miami Heat (11)

“Hey, Mr Riley, this is Ray Allen’s lawyer. If you continue to call my client, we will have no other option but to take out that restraining order we’ve talked about.”

13. Detroit Pistons (13)

The Spurs’ loss on Monday means that, improbably, the Pistons remain the last team to beat the Warriors.